Ratchet wrench



Dec. 1, 1953 A. E. G. SELLERS 2,660,910

RATCHET WRENCH Filed May 15, 1951 Patented Dec. 1, 1953 UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE "'RATGHET WREN'GH v.Albert E. "GfS'ell'ers, -'Radn'or, "Pa. Application-May 15, 1951,2-Serial N0. 226;'400

The present invention relates to. -newanduseful improvements-in wrenches and .more .1 particularly to new and :.useful improvements in ratchet actuated end wrenches which-maybe ratcheted in eithermdirection and also -main tain in a locked position.

The principal object of thepresent invention is to provide a novel and improved wrench cf the type described-which is actuable'in'either direction by a very'short throwor movement of the wrench handle thereby enablingthewrench to be used :in close places toturn nuts or bolts which could not other-wise be loosenedor tightened.

Another object of the present invention to provide-a novel and improved wrench of the character .described which operates on the ratchet principle and is easily and readiIyoperated in either direction witha very small movement or throwflof the wrench handle.

A further object .of .the present invention is to provide a. novel andimproved wrenchof the type described which can beratcheted in either direction or locked in a predetermined position by the selective actuation of a single member.

A still further object of thepresent invention is to provide a novels-and improved wrench of the type described having the features and'characteristics set-forth which is of-comparative1y simplified and inexpensive construction.

These and other objects-of the present. invention and the various features and details of the operationand constructionthereof are hereinafter more fully set forthand described'with reference to the accompanying drawing, in'which:

Fig. l is a plan view of awrenchmadein-accordance with :the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view 'oflthe wrench illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view partially in section showing the actuating members :in engaged relation with the movable jaw portion .of;:the wrench;

Fig. 4 is an enlargedilongitudinali sectional view takenon lineA-A; Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is anenlarged. fragmentary "planview partially in section illustrating one of the actuatingmembers :in disengaged i'r'e'lation in respect to the movable jaw portion 'ofithe wrench;

Fig.6 is a perspectiveiview of thecamnsed to position the actuating .membersa and Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a' plate-on-partition employed lin the "head' -po'rtion of the wrench.

. Referring more particularly-to the drawing, a wrenchmade iii-accordance with the present invention'may comprise aigenerally Y-shaped body H3 including an elongated hand'grip' portion H and a "head'portion I2. Inthe "illustrated embodiment of the inventionffthe handle 1'0 .com-

and 29 are positioned clockwise rotation of the I, 28 and 29, respectively,

prisesecomplementary bodyportions I3 andM, respectively, which may be, for example, sheet metal stampings :securely fastened together by anysuitable meanssuch as rivets or the like l5. Alternatively thebody portions may be diecastmgs.

Rotatably mounted. within .the headportion l2 of the wrench' body. is a-substantially circular jaw member it which is radially slotted as indicated-at I! to provide opposed work engaging faces or jaw portions 18, I8. The jaw. member #6 isrotationally confined or retained within the head 12. of the wrench. by means/of inwardly directed.-semicircular flanges .Zl, 2| which .are formed integral with the body portions I3 and M, respectively, of the wrench and slidably engage-within circulargrooves or tracks 22,..22 formed in opposite faces of the rotatable jaw member l6 adjacent theperiphery thereof, for examplaas shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing.

Formed on theperipheral or edge iaceof the jaw memberv l6 isa seriesof ratchet teethor the like23 which are. adapted to. be selectively engaged bythe teeth of .a pair of actuating members 2t .and .25, respectively. The actuating members 24 and ;25-are mounted within a chamher-.25. in the wrench head portion l2 for sliding movement radially with respect to the rotatable jaw 16. Disposed betweenthemembers 2a and 25 .andsecured intermediate of the handle portions l3 and I4 is an arcuate plate 21 which functions to. facilitate relative slidingmovement of the actuating members with respectto each other.

In accordance with the invention, the actuating .rnember124 is provided with teeth 24a constructed and .arranged, when engaged with the teeth .23 on the periphery of the jawmembem tov rotate said jaw member in the clockwise .direction relative to the body 10 with respect to Y Figs 3 of the drawing, upon back and forth. os-

cillationof the wrench. Conversely, the teeth 25a of the other actuatingmemberlfi are constructed and arranged when engaged with the teeth 23 .of the jaw member Hi to effect counterjaw member i6 upon back and forth oscillating movement of the wrench as described.

Associated with each of the actuating members' 24- and'2'5, respectively, is a. suitable spring which is arranged normally to urge the actuating members toward the member l6 and engage their teeth'with the teeth of the jaw member It. In the illustrated .embodiment of the"invention,'the coil springs '28 between the actuating members 24 and'25, respectively, and the end wall 3| of" the chamber'Z6,-as shown in-Figs. 3 to 5, inclusive, .of thedrawing.

ioperation ..of Lthe wrench .ain the-describedmanner is efiected or accomplished by a control member 32 having portions operable upon actuation of said control member to engage one or the other or both actuating members 24 and 25 with the teeth of the movable jaw member It. To this end the control member 32 is provided with oppositely arranged axially spaced cam portions 33 and 34, respectively, one of which, namely the cam 33, is operatively engaged within a circular opening 35 in the actuator member 2t and the other, namely the cam as, is operatively engaged within a similar opening 35 in the actuator member 25. The control member 32 has its opposite shaft end portions 32a and 32b rotatably mounted in aligned openings provided in the wrench body portions i3 and Id, and a handle element 3? is secured on the shaft end 3% for rotationally actuating the control member relative to the actuator members is and 25. To provide the necessary clearance for the assembly of the control member 32, the actuator members 24 and 25 and the interposed plate '27, the latter is provided with an opening 2'50, of a size and shape corresponding to the openings 35 and 36 in the said actuator members 2:3 and 25.

Normally the jaw member is will be locked against rotation with the cam actuator element 3'! disposed in the center or mid-portion shown, for example, in Fig. l of the drawing. In this position of the control member 32 the cam portions 33 and 35 thereof are disposed, in the actuator member openings 35 and respectively, in the relative positions shown, for example, in Fig. 8 of the drawing, and the actuator member openings 35 and 35 as well as the control cam portions 33 and 3e are constructed and arranged with respect to one another so that in the position of said cam portions shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing both of the actuator members 2 and 25 will have their teeth engaged with the teeth of the rotary jaw member l6 under the bias of springs 23 and 22. It will be apparent, when the teeth of both actuator members are engaged with the rotary jaw teeth as described, that the rotary jaw members l5 are locked in position against rotation in either direction upon back and forth movement of the wrench handle.

On the other hand, when it is desired to cause the jaw member It to be ratcheted in the counterclockwise direction with respect to the drawing, the control member handle element 3? is actuated also in the clockwise direction into the broken line position shown against a stop 3%, thereby positioning the cam portions 33 and 36 of the control member in the relative positions shown in Fig. 5 oi the drawing. As there shown the cam portion is disposed in a position radially outwardly from the rotary jaw member iii thus causing the actuator member 24 to be disengaged from the rotary jaw member 35 against the action of the spring 2-3. On the other hand, when the cam portion 355 is disposed in an angular position causing the other actuator member 253 to be engaged by its spring 28 with the teeth of the rotary jaw member !6 so that counterclockwise ratcheting of the latter is eifected upon oscillating or back and forth manipulation of the wrench handle.

Conversely, when it is desired to ratchet the jaw member it in the clockwise direction with respect to the drawing, the control member element 3? is actuated in that direction to the broken line position against a stop 39 thereby reversely positioning the cam portions 33 and 34 of the control member and causing the portion 34 to disengage the actuator member 25 from the rotary jaw member against its spring 29 and the position of the other cam portion 33 in its opening 35 causing the spring 28 to engage the actuator member Z with the teeth of the rotary jaw member 16. The openings 35 and 36 in the actuator members 25 and Z5 be provided with small detents 35a and 35a, respectively, for engagement by the ends of the cam portions 33 and as to retain the latter in the positions to which actuated to eiiect ratcheting of the rotary jaw member it.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides a novel and improved wrench which may be actuated in either direction by a very short throw or movement of the wrench handle simply by the operator actuating the control handle 3i in the appropriate direction without changing his grasp or grip on the wrench handle. ihe wrench can be used in close places to turn nuts or bolts which could not otherwise be loosened or tightened, and the construction enables the jaw of the wrench to be ratcheted in either direction or to be locked against rotation, as desired.

While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described herein it is not intended to limit the invention to such a disclosure and changes and modifications may be incorporated and embodied therein within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

.1. In a ratchet wrench comprising a handle member including an elongated grip portion and a head portion, a rotatably mounted circular jaw member in said head portion having a radial slot therein and a series of teeth on the periphery of said jaw member extending thereabout from one side of said slot continuously to the opposite side thereof, a pair or" toothed actuator members disposed in the head portion in overlapping relation centrally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the wrench and slidable selectively in parallel planes in a direction longitudinally of the wrench toward and away from said jaw member respectively into and out of engagement with the teeth thereof, one of said actuator members having its teeth arranged to rotate the jaw member in one direction and the other actuator member having its teeth arranged to rotate said jaw member in the other direction, said actuator members each having an opening therein with its center located along 5 the longitudinal axis of the wrench and each of said members having an arcuate length greater than the width of said radial slot so that at least some of the teeth on each actuator member are engageable with the teeth of the jaw member in all rotary positions of the latter regardless of the circumferential position or said radial slot, spring means associated with each actuator member acting normally to urge the same into engagement with the teeth of said jaw member, a rotatable control member extending through the openings in said actuator members and actuatable between predetermined limit positions, and cam portions on said control member operable within the openings of said actuator members in one limit position of said control member to effect disengagement of one actuator member only from said jaw member and in the other limit position to effect disengagement of the other actuator member only from said jaw member.

2. In a ratchet wrench comprising a handle member including an elongated grip portion and a head portion, a rotatably mounted circular jaw member in said head portion having a radial slot therein and a series of teeth on the periphery of said jaw member extending thereabout from one side of said slot continuously to the opposite side thereof, a pair of toothed actuator members disposed in the head portion in overlapping relation centrally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the wrench and slidable selectively in parallel planes in a direction longitudinally of the wrench toward and away from said jaw member respectively into and out of engagement with the teeth thereof, one of said actuator members having its teeth arranged to rotate the jaw member in one direction and the other actuator member having its teeth arranged to rotate said jaw member in the other direction, said actuator members each having an opening therein with its center located along the longitudinal axis of the wrench and each of said members having an arcuate length greater than the width of said radial slot so that at least some of the teeth on each actuator member are engageable with the teeth of the jaw member in all rotary positions of the latter regardless of the circumferential position of said radial slot, spring means associated with each actuator member acting normally to urge the same into engagement with the teeth of said jaw member, a slide plate fixedly mounted intermediate said actuator members and having an opening therein arranged to register substantially with the opening in each of the actuator members when disengaged from said jaw member, a ro- 1 tatable control member extending through the openings in said actuator members and slide plate and actuatable between predetermined limit positions, and cam portions on said control member operable within the openings of said actuator members in one limit position of said control member to efiect disengagement of one actuator member only from said jaw member and in the other limit position to efiect disengagement of the other actuator member only from said jaw member.

3. In a ratchet wrench, a body member defining a handle portion and an enlarged hollow head portion having substantially parallel side walls therein uniformly spaced at opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the wrench, a circular jaw member rotatably mounted in said head portion of the body and having a radial slot therein providing opposed jaw faces, a series of teeth on the periphery of said jaw member extending thereabout from one side of the slot continuously to the other side thereof, a pair of toothed actuator members each slidable selectively toward and away from said jaw member respectively into and out of engagement with the teeth thereof and having an arcuate length greater than the width of said radial slot so that at least some of the teeth on each actuator member are engageable with the teeth of the jaw member in all rotary positions of the latter regardless of the circumferential position of said radial slot, each of said actuator members having a portion spanning the space between said parallel side walls of the head portion of the body member and the latter constituting guide means for sliding movement of said actuator members to and from said jaw member, a spring acting on each actuator member normally urging the same into engagement with the teeth of said jaw member, a rotatable control member actuatable between predetermined limit positions, and cam portions on said control member engageable with said actuator members and operable in one limit position of said control member to effect disengagement of one actuator member only from said jaw member and in the other limit position to effect disengagement of the other actuator member only from said jaw member.

4. In a ratchet wrench, a body member defining hollow head and handle portion each having substantially parallel side walls therein uniformly spaced at opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the wrench, the parallel side walls in the head portion being spaced apart a greater distance than the parallel side walls of the handle portion, a circular jaw member rotatably mounted in said head portion of the body and having a radial slot therein providing opposed jaw faces, a series of teeth on the periphery of said jaw member extending thereabout from one side of the slot continuously to the other side thereof, a pair of toothed actuator members each slidable selectively toward and away from said jaw member respectively into and out of engagement with the teeth thereof and having an arouate length greater than the width of said radial slot so that at least some of the teeth on each actuator member are engageable with the teeth of the jaw member in all rotary positions of the latter regardless of the circumferential position of said radial slot, each of said actuator members having portions spanning the spaces between said parallel side walls of the head and handle portions of the body member and the latter constituting guide means for sliding movement of said actuator members to and from said jaw member, a spring acting on each actuator member normally urging the same into engagement with the teeth of said jaw member, a rotatable control member actuatable between predetermined limit positions, and cam portions on said control member engageable with said actuator members and operable in one limit position of said control member to effect disengagement of one actuator member only from said jaw member and in the other limit position to effect disengagement of the other actuator member only from said jaw member.

5. A ratchet wrench as claimed in claim 3 wherein the body member is composed of substantially identical elements each constituting one-half of the body member and extending coextensively in complementary register with each other.

6. A ratchet wrench as claimed in claim 4 wherein the body member is composed of substantially identical elements each constituting one-half of the body member and extending coextensively in complementary register with each other.

ALBERT E. G. SELLERS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 355,153 Jones Dec. 28, 1886 582,622 Dobson May 18, 1897 657,512 Carter et a1 Sept. 11, 1900 1,060,185 Hitt Apr. 29, 1913 1,418,161 Pease May 30, 1922 2,193,984 Rhinevault Mar. 19, 1940 2,521,419 Sellers Sept. 5, 1950 

